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The Literary Splendor of Ahirani: The Soulful Voice of Khandesh - Bharat Patil
- Jyoti Ghanshyam
- Sep 21, 2025
- 7 min read
Language is the fundamental element that gives meaning to human existence. Behind every word that dances on our tongue lies a culture, a geography, a specific time, and the people who lived in it. While every language has a formal, official version, it also possesses a flourishing dialect, a spoken variant that contains the very essence of its people's lives. Ahirani is one such expressive, beloved, and rich dialect.
In Maharashtra, Marathi is the standard language. Just as different regions of the state have their own unique dialects, Khandesh has Ahirani. A dialect is often simple, marked by its spontaneity and ease. It isn't always ornate, but it possesses the profound ability to convey emotions and establish successful communication. A dialect is the language of the people, the voice of a society's oral traditions. It is steeped in emotion, which gives it a vibrant, living quality. The accent and style of speaking in a dialect are authentic and its naturalness is considered its most significant feature. It fosters emotional bonds and affectionate relationships, making personal conversations more meaningful and discussions more impactful.
Ahirani is not just a medium of communication; it is the heart of our society. As a mother tongue, it facilitates dialogue in every household in Khandesh. Its sweetness, its inherent warmth, and its simple yet profound articulation of life's struggles are its greatest literary strengths.
The linguistic form of Ahirani has been shaped by the influences of Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Urdu, and Hindi. However, its spirit and identity remain entirely distinct. Its unique melody, rhythm, and rustic yet cultured grace are its defining characteristics.
Ahirani is primarily spoken in the Khandesh region of Maharashtra, covering Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, and parts of Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambaji Nagar. Today, wherever the people of Khandesh have migrated, they strive to keep the dialect alive. A large number of Khandeshi people are also preserving it in the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
From a literary, social, and cultural perspective, the power of the Khandesh region and its Ahirani dialect has been firmly established. Ahirani possesses a vast body of folk literature that has been passed down through oral tradition. This includes a multitude of songs, proverbs, riddles, couplets, folk tales, (traditional couplets), and wedding songs. The collection of religious hymns known as is a treasure trove of classical Ahirani poetry. This wealth of oral literature highlights Ahirani's significant contribution and shows how this language, deeply integrated with rural culture, continues to celebrate the footprints of history.
Ancient Footprints and Linguistic Roots
The antiquity of Ahirani folk literature suggests that the dialect itself is ancient, identified by its traditions, customs, and ways of thinking. It is believed that Ahirani existed in Khandesh even before the emergence of standard Marathi. Any language first exists and evolves in a spoken or dialectal form. Some languages derive their greatest strength from their spoken form rather than their written one. Ahirani must be viewed from this perspective.
The name "Ahirani" is understood to mean the language of the "Abhir" people. The term "Abhirani" evolved into "Ahirani," just as "Abhir" became "Ahir." Historical records and inscriptions confirm that a community known as the Abhir has lived in Khandesh since ancient times, with mentions found in epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, a fact acknowledged by historians.
Though the name of the Ahir community in Khandesh changed over time, their language, Ahirani, has survived. The Ahir people who speak Ahirani are believed to have migrated through Punjab, Sindh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Malwa before settling in Khandesh. It was natural, therefore, for their dialect to absorb influences from Gujarati, Rajasthani, Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, and Nemadi during this long journey.
While copper plates and inscriptions in Marathi date back to the seventh century, marking it as the starting point of the language, the ancient traces of Ahirani can be dated to between 200 B.C. and 1000 A.D. Research suggests that during the Mahabharata period, when Sanskrit was the dominant language, the language of the Abhirs already existed in Khandesh. This places the origins of Ahirani in the second century B.C., long before Marathi, which rose to prominence in the seventh century A.D. Ahirani language and culture are, therefore, a direct legacy of the Abhir civilization.
Ahirani is the language of the people of Khandesh. Because it is spoken in this region, it is also known as the Khandeshi dialect. In daily life, people from all castes and communities in Khandesh speak it. While some communities use their own distinct dialects within their families, the influence of Ahirani is invariably present. The Ahirani dialect consists of six vowels and thirty-four consonants.
The Journey of Ahirani Literature
Ahirani has a rich literary history that has evolved alongside standard Marathi. Among the dialects within Marathi, Ahirani is the most prominent and geographically widespread. However, compared to standard Marathi, the journey of literary creation in Ahirani began more recently, limiting its volume. Nevertheless, many writers have made invaluable contributions to enrich the Ahirani language. The first known reference to Ahirani appears in the 13th-century text
‘Lilacharitra’
, a biography of the founder of the Mahanubhava sect, Chakradhar Swami. It shows that he and his contemporaries used Ahirani words like
,
, and
.
Sant Dnyaneshwar’s
allegorical abhangas on "Baglan as a bride" are famous. Additionally, some of his works titled ‘Ahirani Gavlan’ and ‘Ahirani Pada’ have been found. In one, he writes,
(I am a simple woman, he is the son-in-law of our village, he comes and tears my blouse). The book
‘Radhamadhavavilasachampu’
, a biography of Shahaji Maharaj written by the poet
Jayaram Pindye
between 1652 and 1657, includes poetry in the Baglani (an older name for Ahirani) dialect. The text lists Baglani as one of the major languages of the time. A Jain poet named
Nimba
wrote a treatise in 1725 that contains a five-stanza devotional and instructional song explicitly titled ‘Ahirani’. Despite being from the Vidarbha region, he used distinct Ahirani words like
,
,
,
,
, and
. The poet
Kamalnayan
(1680-1750) from Antapur village near Mulher wrote a collection of poems called
‘Abhangavali’
, which contains about 1500 couplets, including 5 to 6 compositions in the Baglani-Ahirani language.
Sir George Grierson
(1851-1946), in his monumental
‘Linguistic Survey of India’
, discussed the Ahirani dialect in Volume 9, Part 3, acknowledging its distinct linguistic identity.
Modern Masters and Their Masterpieces
While ancient Ahirani literature was primarily oral, modern Ahirani literature is flourishing across various genres. A new wave of writers, poets, and critics has enriched the literary landscape. Here is an overview of their significant contributions.
Foundational Figures
Dr. Da. Go. Borse: Regarded as a pillar of the Ahirani language, his work in collecting, editing, and analyzing folk literature is monumental. Around 1950, he established the Khandeshi Bhasha Mandal in Malegaon, giving momentum to research in Ahirani folk literature. He authored over 23 books, including , , , and .
Krishna Patil: He carried forward Dr. Borse's legacy by writing the three-volume epic 'Ahirani Loksahitya Darshan' (1987). A renowned collector of Ahirani folklore, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 for his contributions.
Dr. Ramesh Suryavanshi: A scholar of linguistics, his works include 'Ahirani Boli Bhasha Vaidnyanik Abhyas' (A Scientific Study of the Ahirani Dialect), 'Ahirani Mhani va Vakprachar' (Ahirani Proverbs and Idioms), and the pioneering 'Ahirani Boli Shabdkosh' (Ahirani Dialect Dictionary). He is a recipient of the Maharashtra Government's Dr. Ashok Kelkar Marathi Language Scholar Award.
Dr. Sudhir Deore: To promote Ahirani awareness, he started a fortnightly magazine named 'Rasik' in 1985. In 1998, with the Bhasha Research and Publication Center, Baroda, he launched 'Dhol', the first-ever periodical published entirely in Ahirani. His first poetry collection, 'Aadim Talna Sangeet', and research books like 'Ahirani Lokparampara' and 'Ahirani Vatta' are seminal works. He was awarded the Narhar Kurundkar Award by the Maharashtra Government.
Dr. Bapurao Desai: He penned the first-ever novel entirely in Ahirani, titled 'Aakkhi Hayati' (The Whole Life). He has authored several other novels, including , , and . He also wrote the first Ahirani play, , and the first one-act play, .
A Genre-wise Glimpse of Ahirani Literature
The literary output in Ahirani spans numerous forms, with many talented writers contributing to its growth.
Poetry Collections
by Subhash Ahire
by Prof. A. N. Patkari
by Valmik Ahire
by Aba Mahajan
by Krishna Patil
Novels
by Gokul Bagul
by Sanjeev Girase
by Rajaji Deshmukh
by Santosh Thakur
Story Collections
by Gokul Bagul
by Prof. A. N. Patkari
by Machhindra Wagh
by Dr. Dilip Dhondge
Lyrical Prose (Lalitgadya)
by Subhash Ahire
by Prof. Bhagwan Patil
by Sanjeev Girase
Ghazals, Drama, and Other Forms
Charoli (Four-line poems): Somdatt Munjwadkar pioneered this form with his collection (1997).
Ghazals: Devdatt Borse's upcoming collection is highly anticipated. Other poets like Vijay Nikam and Santosh Kamble are also active in this genre.
Drama: Theatrical works like by Prof. B.P. Rajput and one-man shows by Subhash Ahire and Praveen Mali have brought Ahirani to the stage.
Criticism: Dr. Phula Bagul's book 'Khara Aalna' has established the benchmarks for literary criticism in Ahirani.
Autobiography:'Shantai' by Subhash Ahire is a notable work in this genre.
Translations: The Bhagavad Gita has been translated into Ahirani by several authors. Other works include translations of Sant Mira's devotionals and an Urdu novel, .
The New Dawn: Ahirani in the Digital Age
The effort to preserve and promote Ahirani is not limited to literary circles. Many individuals and organisations are making significant contributions. The late Kamlakar Aba Desale translated Sant Dnyaneshwar's 'Pasaydan' into Ahirani. Ravikiran Maharaj delivers his kirtans (spiritual discourses) in Ahirani. Institutions like the Bhasha Centre-Baroda, K. S. Wani Sanstha-Dhule, and various literary councils are working tirelessly for the cause.
Today, a new generation of young writers, poets, and social media creators has begun to contribute in innovative ways. Facebook and Instagram pages like 'Ahirvani' regularly publish poems and couplets. Digital creators and YouTubers like 'Khandeshi Bhau', 'Ahirani Appa', and the 'Ahir Boli' channel provide a platform for Ahirani artists, creating everything from songs and short films to stand-up comedy and web series. This digital renaissance is taking the dialect to new audiences in a contemporary format.
Ahirani is a language born from the soil. To respect it is to honor our roots. The literature created in this dialect is not merely a source of entertainment; it is a reflection of our identity, social understanding, and culture. Ahirani is not just a dialect; it is an emotion, an identity, and a profound sense of existence.
As we celebrate this literary splendor, we are reminded to become a drop in its ever-flowing stream. Because no matter how educated or successful a person becomes, they always cherish the fragrance of their mother tongue in their heart. As the poet Janardhan Deore beautifully puts it:
(Ahirani is so sweet, every word is an art, It plays on the lips, like the sweet filling in a Puran Poli.)
By Bharat Patil
An innovative teacher and the author of the anthology 'Phultana' by Chaprak Prakashan. (This article is the translated version of the original article
खानदेशातील अहिराणी साहित्य वैभव
written by
Bharat Patil
published in the
साहित्य चपराक दिवाळी अंक २०२५ घरपोच मागण्यासाठी लिंक:
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